← All episodes
The Gaming Playbook
Game Development
· 74 min
Why Indie Game Funding Has Changed Forever | Pontus Maehler
With Pontus Maehler
Listen on
About this episode
Why are indie game funding deals getting harder in 2026?
In this episode, I’m joined by Pontus Maehler, games industry advisor and Co-Founder of Agora Gaming Partners, an advisory firm focused on video gaming M&A, publishing, and fundraising.
He breaks down the real state of game publishing, project financing, China publishing opportunities, and how indie studios can survive the current market.
We cover how publishing deal terms have changed, why vertical slices matter more than ever, common mistakes developers make when pitching publishers, and what actually gets games funded today.
If you’re an indie developer, game founder, or anyone trying to understand the business side of the games industry, this episode is for you!
Connect with Pontus Maehler
More episodes like this
Game Development
How This Publisher Tests Game Ideas in Just 2 Weeks | Kirill Oreshkin
Today, I’m joined by Kirill Oreshkin, Co-founder and CEO of Polden Publishing, who explains how his team tests indie game…
Oct 29, 2026
The Gaming Playbook
· 66 min
Game Development
How to Decide What’s Worth Doing at Your Game Studio | Jakob Berglund
Today I’m joined by Jakob Berglund, founder of Atlas One, who spent over 11 years at King and later worked on MONOPOLY GO! at Scopely.
Oct 22, 2026
The Gaming Playbook
· 65 min
Game Development
What It Takes for a Great Game to Succeed | Everplay CEO Mikkel Weider
Today, I’m joined by Mikkel Weider, the new CEO of Everplay Group, home to Team17, astragon Entertainment and StoryToys, with…
Sep 10, 2026
The Gaming Playbook
· 33 min
FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Hivemind Weekly
New episodes, upcoming events and what games industry leaders are talking about. Weekly. Unsubscribe at any time.